OPINION – After 15 years, I still marvel that I am able to serve our community in the Utah Legislature. Once again, my excitement builds for the upcoming session. There is much important work to do — especially, for me, in higher education, where we have opportunities to greatly improve outcomes for our students and, therefore, for our future.
This year, however, my excitement balances against a touch of melancholy, having decided that I will not seek re-election. After serving eight years in the House of Representatives and (it will be) another eight in the Senate, it is time for me to move on and for someone else to serve the good people of District 29. Thank you for allowing me to serve you in the Legislature! I have loved all of it!
I will miss being lobbied at ball games, church, restaurants, during doctor visits and, well, any other place I’m out in public. I will miss digging deep on policy issues, trying to craft solutions that balance important interests within our constitutional mandates. I will miss doing battle with legislative colleagues, knowing that 15 minutes later we will lock arms together on a different issue.
I will take with me precious memories and cherished experiences. I will take with me inspiration I have gained by working with and serving many of you. I will take with me a reverence for our system of government and the fact that regular folks get to serve and that regular folks decide who will serve. Again, let me say, thank you for allowing me to serve!
I look forward to dusting off my law books and practicing law full time. I look forward to serving our community and world in other ways. Part of that will involve non-profit work in Tanzania, where I already am working with friends to improve healthcare and living standards. I look forward to having time to read novels and enjoy long conversations. I look forward to reminiscing and marveling that I was able to serve in the Utah Legislature, grateful that others have come forward to carry that torch.
Thank you again for allowing me to represent you. If you have thoughts or needs during 2016, please contact me at telephone 435-668-7759. It is my great pleasure to serve you!
Submitted by Sen. Stephen Urquhart
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Bender will miss Urquhart’s moderate (for a Utah Republican) approach.
Mr. Urquhart,
Thank you for all you have done. Your intelligent, common sense stance as well as your willingness to challenge the status quo on the issues of our day was, at times, like a beacon of light in a sea of darkness. Your work over the last years has been exemplary and I wish you and yours well in the next chapter of your life and leave you with this:
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover”.
— Mark Twain
Too bad. Urquhart’s honest (and rare in the legislature) attempts to correct education problems in Utah will be missed.
Thank you for the letter, Senator Urquhart. Good luck in your future endeavors.
You did a heck of a job ! Thank you. now go relax and enjoy life a bit. and wish you the best in your future projects.
I’m sure that idiot from Mesa AZ will be in before long to say something stupid and ignorant like he always does